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It’s not unusual for modern businesses to use multiple applications in the daily running of their operations, in fact, some use literally hundreds. Fortunately, customer relationship management integration, or CRM, helps make sure that the flow of customer data runs smoothly between each of these applications, without a single hitch.
Understanding and meeting the needs of customers is made effortless with CRM integration, even when communications take place across a number of different channels. Instead of being forced to manage customer data gathered from sources such as email, website forms, and social media platforms separately, Close CRM integrations make data related to all interactions, available across a range of connected systems.
Let’s take a look at some of the primary benefits of CRM integration:
- Centralization of business and customer data provides a more comprehensive picture
- With one central hub, past interactions with customers, along with their preferences, are quick and easy to find
- A unified customer view allows for questions to be anticipated before being asked, leads to be responded to more effectively, and marketing campaigns to be personalized
- Internal collaborations are made easier when the information sales teams need, can be found in one centralized place
- Real-time access to centralized data helps sales teams know the immediate needs of their customers, making them more efficient
However, it’s important to understand that there’s more to a successful CRM integration than technology alone.
Here are some best practices to guarantee a smoother, more effective integration:
Define your goals
You should have a clear picture of the exact outcomes you wish to achieve when you connect your tools with your CRM. This makes sure that your business goals are matched by the actions you take and helps you select the necessary tools, make plans for workflow, and prioritize integration tasks.
If your goal is to use a targeted email campaign to improve engagement with your customers, you must ensure that there is a seamless flow of customer data from your chosen CRM, to your tool for email marketing.
Keep your data clean
Hygienic data is all about having a CRM system that contains updated and accurate data. This means removing duplicate entries or information that’s old or no longer required from your CRM, so that you can avoid sending messages that aren’t relevant, or target the wrong prospects. There are plenty of tools you can buy that automatically cleanse data, ensuring a reliable CRM, at all times.
Train your sales staff
Many businesses seek help from third parties to train their sales teams in the use of integrated CRM systems. With a sales team who understand how to get the most out of such a system, you’ll be able to maximize its full potential, while reducing potential risks.
Test and monitor
Even the most carefully planned and executed CRM integration, can encounter an unforeseen challenge on occasion. But, by continually checking and assessing the performance of the integrated CRM system, you can spot glitches before they have the chance to disrupt operations.
Systems such as Close CRM, work wonderfully well when integrated with other tools – helping to create a simple to use, and always accurate centralized ecosystem for sales teams – but Close CRM setup doesn’t always run smoothly without third party, professional help, and neither do integrations. While it might be tempting to skip the fee and set up your Close CRM integration unaided, it can be much quicker and far less frustrating to seek expert help.
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